The Externally Focused Life is all about the heart

• My heart

• Your heart

• The heart of our congregation

"It's also like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities. To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left. Right off, the first servant went to work and doubled his master's investment. The second did the same. But the man with the single thousand dug a hole and carefully buried his master's money.

"After a long absence, the master of those three servants came back and settled up with them. The one given five thousand dollars showed him how he had doubled his investment. His master commended him: 'Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.'

"The servant with the two thousand showed how he also had doubled his master's investment. His master commended him: 'Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.’

"The servant given one thousand said, 'Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.’

"The master was furious. 'That's a terrible way to live! It's criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest.

"'Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this "play-it-safe" who won't go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness.’

Matthew 25:14-30 (MSG)

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

2 Corinthians 5:10 (ESV)

USE what we’ve been given in ALL aspects of our LIFE:

• L-oves (passions, experiences, what do you like, care about, good at)

• I-ntersections (opportunities, coincidences, involvement)

• F-ortune (time (average $18.04/hr), abilities, treasure, what you have to share)

• E-ternity (what are you doing for God?)

Leveraging Resources

1. You’re invited to give expression to your faith

So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

James 2:17 (ESV)

HEAD TO HEART

• Sometimes this journey of 18 inches can be the longest!

• Moves my faith from thought in my head to ACTION from my heart

• Transformation can’t happen just from the things we stuff in our head

• Take in His Word so it shows up in how we live

HEART TO HANDS

• His grace is SEEN in our life

• How’s that currently happening in you?

Leveraging Resources

1. You’re invited to give expression to your faith

2. You invite others to see beyond you

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:16 (ESV)

Leveraging Resources

1. You’re invited to give expression to your faith

2. You invite others to see beyond you

3. You’re invited to see past yourself

They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

1 Timothy 6:18-19 (ESV)

Leveraging Resources

1. You’re invited to give expression to your faith

2. You invite others to see beyond you

3. You’re invited to see past yourself

4. You invite God to say “well done!”

His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

Matthew 25:21 (ESV)